Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Asthma severity in children associated with low vitamin D levels

In the May 1, 2009 issue of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and women's Hospital in Boston report a link between insufficient levels of vitamin D and increased severity of asthma in children.

Asthma which is characterized by airway hyper-responsiveness to certain stimuli, results in coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. For unknown reasons, the prevalence of asthma is increasing, particularly in industrialized nations. Juan Celedón, MD, DrPH, Augusto Litonjua, MD, MPH, and colleagues measured serum allergy markers and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 616 children aged 6 to 14 living in the central valley of Costa Rica, an area that has a high incidence of asthma. Lung function tests and allergy skin testing were also conducted. Continue Reading

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